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For 60 some years the large neon
Elite Cafe sign had been an icon along Penticton's Main Street. In 2019 the sign finally came down, to be replaced with
the present
Wild Ginger Asian Cuisine sign, proclaiming the name of the present establishment, though the restaurant wouldn't open until the early summer of 2021.
Interesting side note:
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton once visited The Elite Café.
Until the restaurant was taken over by new owners, to become
Wild Ginger Asian Cuisine, it had remained a classic diner, serving classic western menu items in a classic setting. One patron noted that it was "
a restaurant that hasn't had a makeover in 80 years."
That, though, is a thing of the past, the restaurant having being completely renovated and redecorated to reflect its new style and its new menu. The
Wild Ginger offers popular Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese dishes. Their extensive menu includes Soups, Appetizers, noodles & rice, and specialty dishes.
Also of note is the number of Gluten Free and Vegan items to be found on their menu, such as the following gluten free menu items:
- Salad Roll
Prawns with lettuce, beansprout rice noodle wrapped in rice paper served with peanut hoisin sauce
- Pad Thai
Rice noodles with eggs, prawns, tofu and chicken, sprinkled with peanuts
- Chicken or BBQ Pork Fried Rice
Eggs, peas & carrots, House-chicken pork and prawns
- Thai Pineapple Fried Rice
Eggs, peas & carrots, pineapple, chicken, prawns and turmeric
- Beef Pho Soup
Rare beef and brisket with rice noodles in beef broth, served with fresh beansprout and herbs
- Chicken Pho Soup
Sliced chicken breast with rice noodle in chicken broth, served with fresh beansprout and herbs
Since its opening this year it has garnered
good reviews.